The Democrat says he has talked with Jonathan Blum, the deputy administrator with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on the final licensing needed to allow Berkshire Medical Center to open a satellite emergency facility in the region.

“We’ve been very aggressive in trying to get that emergency room situation cleared up with the waiver that is necessary,” Neal said. “I’ve talked to [Massachusetts] Attorney General Martha Coakley about it as well.”

U.S. Congressman Richard Neal says work to restore emergency service to the Northern Berkshires continues after the March 28th closure of North Adams Regional Hospital.

Once an emergency facility is established, the Congressman wants the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to give it critical access designation, so it can receive increased federal reimbursements, Neal said on WAMC’s Congressional Corner program.